Dovetailing mechanism



Dec' 6,

` R. L. CARTER DYETAILING MEGHANISM Filed Nov. 8. 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

lill' Dec. 6, 1927.

R. L. CARTER DOVETAILING MECHANISM Filed Nov, 8.11926 2 sheets-sneer 2 DEUD E DD A DML 1 I A f A b z QE l 77 Ma/M Patented Dec. 6, 1927. f

PATENT oFFlci-a.

RAY L. CARTER, on PHOENIX, NEW YORK.

y s l .v L

DOVETAILING MECHANISM..

VApplication filed November 8, 1926. Y.Serial No. 147,030.

Y.This invention relates toV a templet for guiding routing and other tools Vwhenvcutting dovetails, and has-for its primary object to providerv a pattern or templet, by which the flaring tenons and the correspondingly shaped'mortisesvoffsideand end sections of boxes, drawers, and the like, may be simultaneously cut by the routing bit. A further object is to provide a novel angular U support for the templet and the work, the said support comprising a plane horizontal table and an integral apron,the said-parts being equipped with similar -independent clamps,by which the two box sectionsmay be l? rigidly held at right-angles to each other while the routingbit traces the dovetail patternand effects the rapid and accurate cutting of the interlocking tongues and sockets of thetwo sections at a single operation. 20 A further-objectisto provide gaging means forpositioning the two sections in staggeredv relation to eachother for enabling the tool toproperlycut dovetailtenons atjthe end of one piece of wood, and by the same operationfcut corresponding mortises in the end ofa'like piece of wood without necessitating readjustment of the device or disturbing of the work. A further obj ect is to provide tension means for normally spacingy the clamp# ing members from the table and apron. And a further'object istoprovide means for clamping thedevice to a bench or other sup-V port. Y L f Y ,Y The various features and parts ofthe invention will be understood from the detailed descriptionlwhich, follows, and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which-` .l

Figure lis a top plan view of the complete device, showing vthe side and end pieces of the work in the operative position, also showing the said piecesoperated upon. Fig. 2 is a front side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing router cutting dovetails. Fig. 4 is an edge view, showing the box-sections interlocked. Fig. 5`is a top plan view of same.V Fig. Gis a view of the sections ofk box ready to be vas-y sembled. Fig. 7jis a similar view of the sections when taken from the machine. Fig. y8 is a plan view of the templet. Fig. 9 is respectively a side elevation and bottom end view of the dovetailing bit.

j In` drawings, k2 represente an. angular frameor body, comprisinga relativelylarge rectangular horizontal portion 2, and an integral vertical portion 2n.V The portion 22- is preferably formed'with a rearwardly extending arm 2b, (see Figl), which is perforated and threaded to receive a screw 3, by

whichv the body maybe rigidly clamped to av bench or other support, as 3. 4-^repre sent similar elongated work-clamping mem bers having perforated end portions da-lb, whichV loosely receive clamping screws 5-5, the latter being screwed respectively into 'threaded sockets 2C-2d, of t-he table 2 and they apron 2a, and the free ends of said screws being formed with hand-knobs v5a-5b, by which 'the screws are manipulated.A rl`he screws 5 5 are preferably fitted with similar coil compression springs 6, whose tension normally tends t0 Ysuitably space the clamps from the table and apron for` facilitating applying and removing the work, when the screws are loosened, as shownin Figs. l, 2 and The apron 2a is preferably disposed exactly at right-angles to the table 2. clamps LLand, 4P. are provided respectively for rigidly clamping and holding a side section orportion, as A, and an end section, as B, of a box or like part, perpendicular to each other, while a routing tool, as 10.

cuts the interlocking tenons and mortises, for

effecting the ordinary dovetail corner joint, when thev said sections are assembled V(see Figs. 4l and 5). The sections A and B are preferably the same breadth and thickness and the said sections are applied to ythe frame- 2, in advance of the dovetailing` work, in such manner that their corresponding ends, as a and Z), are disposed adjacent the angle of the frame (see Figs. l, 2 and 3) .f The endv a .of section -A is preferably disposed flush with the out-er face ai of the apron 2a, while end b of the section B isarranged to overlap `the end a and is disposed flush with the top right edge of Vsection B project beyond the The corresponding edges of the opposing sections v (see Figs. l and 2). This offsetting ofthe sections is effected by means of similar gages orl guides a and' b', Awhich are respectively monnted upon `the table 2 andthea' oi 2 idfheld place byscrew 2g;

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setting of the sections preferably amounts to substantially one-baliA the distance between the centers ot' adjacent tongues und mortises of the (ilovelails.

The dovetail ten'lplct, iiulicated at 9, coinprises a relatively sti il plane sheet of' liber or metal, ilireierabllif rectangular in shape," whose opposite ends are notched, as shown at 9"', in 3 and S, to loosely receive the screws 5. The tcniplei: 9 preferably rick idly secured to the iuulcrside of the clamp e, by :.tcreus lh and thence extends forwardly and oi'erhan's the outer face fr oil the apron P, This 'im'ward edge of the templet is formed with a number of serrations or fingers 9', the said lingers all bein;r the same length and breadtln and being spaced equidistantly from center to center, and the lenfrth et said ingrers preferably substantiaily equals the combined length of the alining mcrtises 7 and the tenons S ofthe sections A and B (eee Eiger. 1). The .tree ends of the fingers 9", are pre reliably round cor respondne,r to the shape oi' the tenons S, and the said lingers are slightly narrower than the flared tops oi said tenons as shown in Figs. 1 and i2; ',[he euttiuaf ot the doretails may be ellected by means of an ordinary motor driven router, one of which is illustrated convention-.illy at 12, in Fig. 3, Wherein the rotary conical bit 10 is shown in the act ot'V forming one of the round undercut tenons 8 of the section B. During the dovetailing the router 12 preferably rests upon and is moved frictionally Ver the teni )let 9. The tool 10 has its cutting end fluted or cut away at 10', (see Figs. 3 and 9), for providing oppositely facing angular spurs or blades 10, the sharp ediles 1U" of which taper for cutting the bcyels oit the. tenons and lL'rooif'es of the dovetails. The shank `Il()c ot the tool 10 passes looselyT througdra guide 13, that com rises the lower end of an inverted conica.. cap 13', which 4forms a part of the motor casing 13 and is nonrevolublc. The guide 13 is usually cylindrical, and is preierably substantially thc saine diameter as the breadth of the lingers 9 and the spaces or bights 9 between the said `fingers. During: the dovetailingr the ,cuide 1? traverses tric tionally the relatively narrow serrated edges of the teinplet 9, and enables the bit to cut the tenons 8 and the mortises exactly alike as to size and sliapei as best seen in Figs. 5m 6 and 7. The guide 13 is of greater diameter than the narrow end of the bit 10. This eftfects the broadening; of the tops of the tenons 8 and the correspondingY narrowing of the tops of the mortises relatively to the tongues 9 and the bi ehts 9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and prevents the bit from injnr in;r the templet. The hit 1i) driven direct ly by the armature shaft of the motor lei, and is usually detachably connected to said shaft by means of any suitablechuck as 14 (see llig. 3). The encased motor 14 is adjustable axially in a base 15 that rides upon the templct and disposes the tool l() 1to1' cutting in the proper plano below the base. The a1'- rangenunt of the templet 9 and the peculiar disposition ot the sections A and B, are such that the bit lll alternately cuts the tenons S and the nlcrliises 'i'. Then the sections are removed from the machine both must be reversed as may hc understood by comparing Fia'. i' with Fie'. (t in order to properly lit the tenons into the sockets, as shown in ige.` el and 5i. By providing` the teniplet i), and mounting: it rigid. Jeneath the clamp 4, the said teniplet may be raised and lowered by simply lcoserniruxor tighteningr the screws 5, Vlor accommodatinor box or other sections A ot different thicknesses. Except for the matter of the adjustments last above referred to, the device when constructed as herein shown,y is always ready for instant use, and owing to its peculiar construction and a1 rangement, the. dorf-trailingr may be effected rapidly, :iccurzxtely and economicallyg by persons ot ordinary skill, and when the sections A and li are properly prepared they may be placed in the machine and clamped in place in less than a minute, and the dovetailing of the Qorresponding ends of the opposing sections. eren when the sections are relatively broad, may he accurately Wrought in two or three minutes time. The cutting of the tenons and mortises of two sections simultaneously by the same tool not only `saves considerable time and labor, but also ensuresthe perfect intertitting of the dovetailed Sparte, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Havingr thus described my invention; what 1. A dovetail mechanism includinrr a hori- :rental table and a vertical apron adapted to seat adjacent sections ot a box or thelike, and similar meansforclampingv the said sections to `the table and apron, gagging means for staggering said sections. a templet overlying: the section carried by the said table` its forward margin being formed with spaced lingers, and said fingers overlying thctop ond of the section carried by the apron, `and a router adapted to be moved over the top iaee of said templet including a rotary conical bit adapted to cui tenons and mortises in the corresponding ends of said, sections below the planeolt the templet. said bit hav ingr a guide portion that traverses the edges of the lingers, i y i 2. A dovetailing mechanism, including an angular frame consisting of a horizontal table and a vertical apron, means for clamping: sections of a box or the like against `the top face of the table and the outer face of the apron, a tem alet overlying the section carried by the table having one edge formed Withspaced lingers that overlap the top end of the section carried by the apron, means for staggering the said sections, a motor supported by a base adapted to be moved over the top surface of the templet, anda bit driven by the motor, said bit being arranged to simultaneously cut `tenons and mortises -in the corresponding ends of said sections belovs7 said templet, said bit being'formed with a guide that traversesv the edges of said fingers.

3. In a dovetailing mechanism, a frame includling a horizontal seat and a vertical seat adapted to'support respectively a side and an end section of a box or the like at right angles to each other, the corresponding ends Y of1 said'sections overlapping and the topv end of the .vertical section being disposed flush with the top surface of the horizontal section, a plane templet overlying Vthe horizontal section, its forward edge being formed with spaced fingers, said fingers overlapping and engaging the adjacent end` of the vertical section, a routing machine adapted to be moved over said templet comprising a motor-driven bit that projects below the templet, said bit having a guide portionthat traverses ,the facing edges of the iingers While the tool cuts tenons in the end of the vertical section, and b the same operation cuts correspondingly s aped mortises in the overlapped end of the horizontal section.

4. In a dovetailing mechanism, the combinatlon with a frame comprising a horizon- .tal seat and a vertical seat adapted to support respectively sectionsof a box or the like, and clamping means for rigidly holding the sections against said seats, of a templet interposed between the horizontal seat and its clamping member and overlying the toprface of .the side section, said templet being f RAY LycAn'rER. e 

